October 31, 2017

3 tips for improving your workplace reviews

The internet has changed the way employees interact with the companies they work for, and workplace reviews are now very common. How can you improve yours?

The internet has completely changed the way employees interact with the organisations they work for. Previously, if businesses had management issues or a poor workplace culture, this could be swept under the carpet fairly easily. In today's internet-driven, review-based world, however, any issues your company faces are there for all to see.

61 per cent used reviews before making a decision to apply for a job.

This can make the recruitment process slightly more difficult – Glassdoor and other workplace review websites mean candidates often know all about a company's problems before they even go to interview. In fact, according to statistics from the company itself, 61 per cent used reviews before making a decision to apply for a job.

However, far from seeing them as a bad thing, employers should use these websites to find areas for improvement. How can you boost your workplace reviews?

1) Treat your employees like volunteers

Imagine that your employees are volunteers – think of what might motivate them beyond their normal salary. Leadership, culture and non-monetary incentives will all play a part in what helps your employees to find enthusiasm and to do their job well. You need to ensure you're celebrating your team's successes and do everything in your power to make the office a happy place to be. Don't be afraid to talk to your staff members and ask what keeps them motivated – the best people to help you improve those workplace reviews are the ones that will end up writing them.

62 per cent of Glassdoor users say their perception of a company improves if an employer responds to reviews.

2) See the reviews as constructive criticism

This is a chance to show you're human – and job seekers will respect you for it.

It's important not to dismiss any negative reviews out of hand. Of course, you can't please everyone, but many of the reviews on Glassdoor will contain constructive feedback – areas where you can improve so that the next review an employee leaves will be more positive.

As a CEO or executive, it's easy to become a little separated from the day-to-day operations of the office, so see these reviews as a chance to get genuine feedback from your employees. Hold a meeting with your team and discuss the reviews openly – acknowledge that they are bad, and ask your staff members what you can do to make them happier.

3) Keep your review page up to date

Glassdoor reports that 62 per cent of users say their perception of a company improves after seeing an employer respond to a review. So make sure you reply to each and every review with a carefully weighted response that acknowledges the criticisms and details what you're going to do to improve. This is a chance to show you're human – and job seekers will respect you for it. You should do the same for your company description, and make sure all information is up to date.

Sometimes, the best way to improve a company's culture is to make a change at the top. Contact us today for more information on how the executive recruitment specialists at Jackson Stone & Partners can help.